Environmental Justice

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כי האדם עץ השדה FOR IS THE TREE OF THE FIELD A MAN [THAT IT SHOULD BE BESIEGED BY THEE]? — כי has here the meaning of “possibly”, “perhaps” (cf. Rashi on Exodus 23:5) — is the tree of the field perhaps a man who is able to withdraw within the besieged city from before you, that it should be chastised by the suffering of famine and thirst like the inhabitants of the city? Why should you destroy it?

Rashi on Deuteronomy 20:19:3

FOR IS THE TREE OF THE FIELD MAN. I have previously explained in the Sefer Ha-Yesod that it is possible in all languages to be brief and to apply an abbreviated style, as in “an ass bread” (I Sam. 16:20). However, it is impossible to leave out the word lo (no, not), for in this case the meaning would be reversed. A great Spanish grammarian said that a heh has been omitted. Our clause should be interpreted as if written, hakhi adam etz ha-sadeh (for is the tree of the field man). Now this interpretation does not appear correct to me…

Ibn Ezra on Deuteronomy 20:19:1

“See the work of God, for who can mend what He has warped?” (Ecclesiastes 7:13)
“See the work of God, for who can mend what He has warped?” When the Holy One blessed be He created Adam the first man, He took him and showed him all the trees in the Garden of Eden, and He said to him: ‘See My creations, how beautiful and exemplary they are. Everything I created, I created for you. Make certain that you do not ruin and destroy My world, as if you destroy it, there will be no one to mend it after you. Moreover, you will cause death to that righteous one…

Kohelet Rabbah 7:13:1

The root of this commandment is well-known — it is in order to teach our souls to love good and benefit and to cling to it. And through this, good clings to us and we will distance [ourselves] from all bad and destructive things. And this is the way of the pious and people of [proper] action — they love peace and are happy for the good of the creatures and bring them close to Torah, and they do not destroy even a grain of mustard in the world. And they are distressed by all loss and destruction that they see…

Sefer HaChinukh 529:2

Speak to the Israelite people and say to them: When you enter the land that I assign to you, the land shall observe a sabbath of יהוה. Six years you may sow your field and six years you may prune your vineyard and gather in the yield. But in the seventh year the land shall have a sabbath of complete rest, a sabbath of יהוה: you shall not sow your field or prune your vineyard.

Leviticus 25:2-4

Relatedראו גם

Environmentalism

Waste Not (Bal Tashchit)

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